virginia’s plan to increase employment opportunities for ......1 virginia’s plan to increase...

Employment Plan 12/27/2013

1

Virginia’s Plan to Increase Employment Opportunities for Individuals with

Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

FY 2013 – FY 2015

Goals, Strategies, and Action Items

Goal 1: Align licensing, certification, accreditation, data collection, and other activities between state agencies that facilitate employment for

individuals with disabilities

Long-Term Outcome: Complimentary policies and practices to support the process of assisting individuals to seek, secure, and to maintain employment

in the community.

Indicators:

Individual agency policy differences do not impede provision of services to individuals

Memorandums of Understanding that outline commitment to work together to resolve issues and inconsistencies.

Alignment of state regulations and administrative policies with Employment First policies and values.

Removal of barriers in existing policies and practices which limit timely employment opportunities.

Strategy 1.1: Formalize an Interagency Workgroup to meet regularly, set goals, and work to align and coordinate agency employment activities for

individuals with ID/DD.

Lead Agency(s)

& Role

Recommended Action(s) Other

Agencies/Orgs

Involved

Projected

Start Date

Projected

Completion

Date

Outcomes Resources

$$$

DBHDS

Employment

Specialist

1.1.1. Establish a Memorandum of Understanding

between DBHDS, DMAS, DBVI, DARS, VDOE, VBPD,

and VCCS to formalize an interagency workgroup and

establish regular meetings

DMAS, DBVI,

DARS, VDOE,

VBPD, DDHH,

VCCS

12/01/13 06/30/14 MOU signed

all agencies

Existing state

resources


2

DBHDS

Employment

Specialist

1.1.2 Interagency Workgroup to develop, where

feasible, consistent definitions across agencies for

billable services, allowable services, community

employment, supported employment, and other

successful employment outcomes.

DMAS, DBVI,

DARS, VDOE,

VBPD, DDHH,

VCCS

12/01/13 06/30/14 Definition

dictionary

Existing state

resources

VDOE and

DARS

1.1.3 Interagency Workgroup will identify existing

cooperative agreements between agencies (ex., DARS-

VDOE cooperative agreement) in order to determine

how other state agencies and community

organizations can create opportunities to exchange

information and resources statewide.

DBHDS, DMAS,

DBVI, DARS,

VBPD, DDHH,

VCCS, VDOE

12/01/13 12/31/14 Initial

assessment

by 06/30/14;

Any potential

agency

commitments

by 12/31/14

Existing state

resources for

initial

assessment;

DBHDS

Employment

Specialist

1.1.4. Interagency Workgroup to share findings and

recommendations with SELN Advisory Group for

comment and feedback.

SELN AG 06/30/14 07/30/14 Review by

SELN AG with

comments

Existing State

Resources

Strategy 1.2: Develop short-term mechanism to collect employment information about the DOJ Settlement Agreement target population.

DMAS, DBHDS,

& DARS

1.2.1 DBHDS, DMAS, and DARS identify a method to

collect data from Medicaid ESO providers similar to

data collected from DARS ESO providers

SELN AG, VEC 12/01/13 10/01/14 Data

Collection

Method

Established

Existing state

resources for

planning; TBD

for actual data

collection

Strategy 1.3: Provide education to DMAS Quality Review staff, DMAS contract auditors, DBHDS ID and DD Waiver Prior Authorization and Community

Resource Consultant staff about allowable employment activities supported by Employment First under the Medicaid waiver programs.

DBHDS

employment

specialist

1.3.1. DBHDS develop curriculum/presentation

regarding allowable employment activities under the

current Medicaid waiver programs.

DMAS SELN AG 12/01/13 12/31/13 Curriculum Existing state

resources


3

DBHDS

employment

specialist

1.3.2. DBHDS employment specialist provide training

to DMAS QMR and DBHDS prior authorization and

Community Resource Consultant staff and DD

.Support Coordinators

DMAS; SELN AG 01/31/14 03/31/14 Training

provided

Existing state

resources

Goal 2: Education and training of stakeholders, providers, and state agency staff.

Long-Term Outcome: Consistent practice of community-based employment and the Commonwealth to support Virginia’s Employment First Initiative.

Indicators:

Increase provision of “informed choice” through training and education.

Increase in number of local Employment First initiatives

Increase number of individuals moving from day support/pre-voc to community-based integrated employment including competitive, GSE, ISE and self employment options

Increased number of ESOs providing community-based employment services

Strategy 2.1: Conduct Regional summits each quarter to provide technical assistance and an avenue for discussion on topics supporting the Employment First

Initiative..

Lead Agency(s) Recommended Action(s) Other

Agencies/Orgs

Involved

Projected Start

Date

Projected

Completion Date

Program Outcomes Resources

DBHDS

Employment

Specialist

2.1.1. Convene an SELN AG subgroup to Identify goals and outcomes for the summits

DBHDS, SELN AG 10/31/2013 2/31/2014 List of learning

objectives for summit

participants

Existing

state

Resources


4

DBHDS

Employment

Specialist

2.1.2. Develop consistent message regarding the importance and positive aspects of employment, awareness of best practices, and to make community employment a consistent part of discussions regarding service options, service plans and regional strategic service planning

DBHDS, SELN AG 12/31/13 1/31/14 Talking Points to

facilitate discussion

Existing

state

resources

DBHDS

Employment

Specialist

2.1.2 Develop a standardized agenda and curriculum for one day summits

SELN AG 10/17/2013 12/31/2013 Agenda for 1 day

summits

Existing

State

Resources

DBHDS

Employment

Specialist

2.1.3 SELN AG to assist by identifying regional key stakeholders and attendees for outreach and participation.

Local CSBs and

ESOs, DARS, VDOE,

SELN AG

12/31/2013 1/31/2014 List of Identified

Stakeholders in

Employment First by

Region with contact

information.

Existing

State

Resources

SELN AG 2.1.4. Develop and provide information and tools to families and self-advocates to assist them in understanding and advocating for Employment First values & goals via their networks. Addressing a broad, unbiased training and information on employment spectrum as well as adult education and college as a pathway to career ideas and employment

SELN AG, VBPD,

Partnership,

1/31/14 4/30/14 One page handouts for summits and content pages for website

Existing

State

Resources


5

SELN AG 2.1.5. Identify current regional employment groups and leverage to expand to additional areas of state.

DARS, VDOE, SELN

AG

12/31/13 2/28/14 List of current

employment groups

by region and meeting

schedule.

Identify gaps in

coverage.

Existing

State

Resources

SELN AG 2.1.6. Identify local agency and organizational roles

Local CSBs and

ESOs, DARS, VDOE,

SELN AG

12/31/2013 1/31/2014 Set up local

employment groups

and/or leverage

existing groups

Existing

State

Resources

SELN AG 2.1.7. Promote key role of non-governmental entities/advocates and local business leadership networks.

DBHDS, VDOE,

ESOs, DARS, SELN

AG,

12/31/2014 4/31/2014 Confirmation and

regional list of entities

& key roles with

contact information.

Existing

State

resources

DBHDS

employment

specialist

2.1.8 Provide ongoing support to local initiatives

DBHDS and SELN

AG

6/31/2014 Ongoing Dissemination of TA

contact information

and available

resources to

employment groups.

Existing

State

Resources


6

Strategy 2.2: Create a dedicated Employment First web page/site to provide a centralized source of information about Virginia’s Employment First Initiative

such as current policies, resources and online trainings and materials.

DBHDS

employment

specialist and

communications

person,

stakeholder

groups

2.2.1 Seek funding as necessary DMAS, DBHDS,

DARS, APSE, VBPD,

RRTC, vaACCSES,

Partnership, The

Arc

9/3/2013 11/1/2013 Identification of

funding and/or in-kind

resources

Grant

Resources

DBHDS

Employment

Specialist

2.2.2 Using principles of

Universal Design for Learning,

partner with other Employment

First advocates to populate site

DMAS, DBHDS,

DARS, APSE, VBPD,

RRTC, vaACCSES,

Partnership, The

Arc

11/1/2013 4/1/2014 User-friendly site filled

with important

information and

activities about

Employment First

Initiative

Existing

Resources

DBHDS

Employment

Specialist

2.2.3. Integrate content into

revised DBHDS site

DMAS, DBHDS,

DARS, APSE, VBPD,

RRTC, vaACCSES,

Partnership, The

Arc

3/15/2014 6/31/2014 Complimentary

content

Existing

Resources

DBHDS

Employment

Specialist

2.2.4 Identify cutting-edge

employment programs and

models that can be duplicated.

Collect vignettes of success

stories

DBHDS, DARS,

APSE, VBPD, RRTC,

vaACCSES,

Partnership. The

Arc, VDOE

4/1/2014 6/31/2014 Toolkit of Success

Stories & models that

can be replicated

Existing

Resources


7

DBHD

Employment

Specialist S

2.2.5.Provide links to site on

partner organization and other

public and private agency

websites

DMAS, DBHDS,

DARS, APSE, VBPD,

RRTC, vaACCSES,

Partnership, The

Arc

4/1/2014 ongoing List of Key partner

emails to disseminate

info

Existing

Resources

DBHDS

Employment

Specialist

2.2.6 “Market” website on

stakeholder group websites, at

provider meetings, and regional

SE summits

DMAS, DBHDS,

DARS, APSE, VBPD

RRTC, vaACCSES,

Partnership, The

Arc

7/1/2014 ongoing Link to website shared

with public through

various means

Existing

resources

DBHDS

Employment

Specialist

2.2.7. Monitor content for

accuracy and timeliness

DBHDS, SELN AG 7/1/2014 ongoing Up to date and

accurate website

Existing

State

Resources

Strategy 2.3: Develop and deliver a system wide comprehensive community-based integrated employment practice training plan

DBHDS

Employment

Specialist

2.3.1 Develop with subgroup of

SELN AG a curriculum to train

Case Managers about the

Employment First Initiative and

how to present employment as

an option to individuals

regardless of their service needs

SELN AG 10/3/2013 1/31/2014 Module for case

manager training on

DBHDS case manager

training site

Existing

Resources

DBHDS

Employment

Specialist and

CM Director

2.3.2 Assure that Case

Management and Support

Coordinators, DARS Counselors,

and Special Education Case

Managers take an “Employment

First” approach during ISP and

IEP meetings by discussing

employment options before non-

employment options.

DBHDS, DMAS,

SELN AG

1/31/14 6/30/1 Documentation in

PCPs that individuals

in the target

population have PCPs

that include evidence

that employment

options were

addressed.

Existing

State

Resources


8

DBHDS

Employment

Specialist

2.3.3 Include ID case managers

and DD support in training to

stress application of Employment

First for individuals with DD .

SELN AG 1/31/2014 3/31/2014 Available Training for

CMS and DD Support

Coordinators

Existing

Resources

DBHDS

Employment

Specialist

2.3.4. Develop a training

resource/fact sheet about

“Working While Receiving

Benefits” and “Dispelling Myths”

with resources to navigate and

locate available supports to be

used by case managers, support

coordinators, providers,

individuals, and families

SELN AG, DARS 3/1/2014 6/30/2014 Training resource/fact

sheet on how working

VDOEs/VDOEs not

impact benefits This

can also be used as

part of the statewide

training curriculum

Existing

State

Resources

DBHDS

Employment

Specialist and

Communications

Director

2.3.5Provide access to these

training resources/modules on

the Employment First web

page/site

Website holder when active when active Disseminate

Resource/Fact

Sheet; Post on

website.

Existing

State

Resources

Strategy 2.4: Reach out to business communities to educate and increase awareness of employing people with disabilities

DARS Director

Division of

Rehabilitative

Services

2.4.1 Based of lessons learned

from statewide trainings to

employers initiated under

Executive Order 55 discuss

possible future replication

DMAS, DBHDS,

DARS, VDOE, WIB

1/1/2013 12/31/2014 Documentation of

Regional Training;

report of lessons

learned

Existing

Resources

Strategy 2.5: Provide support through training and technical assistance aimed at preparing students with disabilities for employment.

Lead Agency(s) Recommended Action(s) Other

Agencies/Orgs

Involved

Projected Start

Date

Projected

Completion Date



9

VDOE SPED

Program, DARS

transition

services

coordinator,

DBHDS

Employment

Specialist

Partnership for

People with

Disabilities

2.5.1 To support the work of the

SELN AG relative to increasing

employment for youth before

they exit school, convene a Youth

Advisory Group (from Youth

Leadership Forum and I’m

Determined as well as other

appropriate stakeholders that

would meet once a year with the

SELN to discuss postsecondary

issues, such as identifying

successful strategies used to

achieve positive results

VDOE, SELN AG,

VBPD, Partnership

for People with

Disabilities, The Arc

2/1/2014 4/31/2014 List of issues of

concerning to youth

about career

development and

post-secondary

education that may

lead to enhanced

employment

opportunities

Existing

State

Resources

VDOE

transitional staff,

DARS transition

services

coordinator,

DBHDS

Employment

Specialist

Partnership for

People with

Disabilities

2.5.2 Convene a Parent Advisory

Group (represented by Center for

Family Involvement, PEATC,

Parent to Parent of VA, Arc of VA)

that would meet once a year with

the SELN to discuss

postsecondary issues specific to

this population.

VDOE, SELN AG,

VBPD, Partnership

for People with

Disabilities, The Arc

2/1/2014 4/31/2014 List of issues of

concerning to youth

about career

development and post-

secondary education

that may lead to

enhanced employment

opportunities

Existing

State

Resources


10

VDOE SPED

Program, , DARS

transition

services

coordinator,

DBHDS

Employment

Specialist ,

RRTC/

2.5.3 Create opportunities for

data sharing across agencies in

order to plan for students

identified through Part B data

collection as nearing exit from

school and services and entering

into adult service agencies.

Interagency

Employment

Workgroup

10/1/2013 Ongoing

Enhanced utilization

of VDOE data about

students who have

exited school

Existing

State

Resources

VDOE

transitional staff,

DARS transition

services

coordinator,

DBHDS

Employment

Specialist,

RRTC/VCU

2.5.4 Support replication of

successful programs such as:

Project SEARCH, Start on Success,

Customized Employment model-

site project, Post-High Programs

and other innovative practices

that support employment while

in school.

SELN AG 10/1/2013 ongoing Documentation of

program replication

and support.

Existing

State

Resources

VDOE

transitional staff,

DARS transition

services

coordinator,

DBHDS

Employment ,

Specialist

Partnership for

People with

Disabilities

2.5.5 Ensure diverse employment

stakeholder involvement on at

least two statewide

postsecondary councils (i.e.,

Virginia Intercommunity

Transition Council, Virginia

Collaborative for College) to

provide knowledge, expertise and

information on successful

employment models and to learn

from others around the table

about the needs of the transition

aged population

SELN AG 7/1/2014 6/31/2015 Dissemination of

uniform information

to different

stakeholder

populations

Existing

State

Resources


11

VDOE 2.56 Increase use of the Student

Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE)

while in school in Virginia. (SSA

income disregard for students

that work while in school.)

DBHDS, VDOE,

DARS, SELN AG

01/01/14 12/31/14 and

annual

Increase in number of

students utilizing SEIE

work incentive

Existing

State

Resource &

Federal

Data

Goal 3: Service delivery system that supports and incentivizes integrated community-based employment

Long-Term Outcome: Virginia’s Employment Service delivery system for employment supports will become the most cost effective, efficient and attractive

service for individuals with disabilities provided by both public and private providers

Indicators:

Demonstrate an increase in integrated community-based supported employment

Demonstrate an increase in the number of employment service organizations offering community-based employment as an option to individuals

(increased capacity)

Demonstrate an increase in wages, especially to minimum wage or higher

Success stories of individuals engaging in microenterprise/business ownership and self-employment

Demonstrate an increase in movement from Day Support and Pre-vocational services to employment in the community.

Strategy 3.1: Ensure that waiver renewal process addresses concerns of ESOs in creating a waiver system which incentivizes employment

Lead

Agency(s)


Agencies/Orgs

Involved

Projected

Start Date

Projected

Completion

Date


DBHDS

Employment

Specialist

3.1.1. Compile list of current issues from SELN AG

members (providers and individuals) which are

currently seen as impediments to integration to

be used by Waiver Study group for waiver rewrite.

SELN AG 10/1/2013 11/31/2013

List of barriers to

employment in

current waiver

structure, including

administrative and

regulatory

Existing state

Resources


12

Strategy 3.2: Ensure that Virginia’s Medicaid waivers reflect current thinking of CMS in support of employment services

DMAS,

DBHDS

Employment

Specialist

3.2.1 Ensure Waiver Study group strongly

considers recommendations from CMS on how to

support community employment.

SELN AG 10/31/2013 10/31/2013 Copy of CMS letter Existing l

Resources

Strategy 3.3 1 Lead and support providers in increasing their capacity to provide community-based employment.

Lead

Agency(s)


Agencies/Orgs

Involved

Projected

Start Date

Projected

Completion

Date


DBHDS

Employment

Specialist

3.3.1 Map local provider capacity (providers doing SE in what localities) to inform the development of a regional strategy to improve access

SELN AG,

Provider

Organizations,

DARS, VDOE

1/1/2014 1/31/2014 Map of current

provider location

and capacity.

Existing state

Resources

DBHDS

Employment

Specialist

Provider

Organization

Leads

3.3.2 Convene a focus group of providers who are

who are currently going through or considering

rebalancing their services to include integrated

community based services to identify needs and

make recommendations to DBHDS, DMAS and the

SELN AG.

SELN AG,

Provider

Organizations,

DARS, VDOE

7/1/2014 9/1/2014 List of Focus Group

recommendations.

Existing state

Resources

DBHDS

Employment

Specialist

3.3.3 Develop regional strategies to encourage

and increase the number of programs providing

community based employment options to

increase capacity and improved access to

supported employment options.

SELN AG,

Provider

Organizations,

DARS, VDOE

9/1/2014 12/31/2014 Increase in regional

approved providers

of integrated

employment

Existing state

Resources


13

DBHDS

Employment

Specialist

Provider

Organization

Leads

3.3.4 Support continued opportunities for

provider development in area of SE

SELN AG,

Provider

Organizations,

DARS, VDOE

9/1/2014 Ongoing Partnership

commitment with

VaACCSES, VA-APSE

and other

stakeholder

organizations to

promote and enlist

SE providers.

Other funding

sources

Goal 4: Financing and contracting methods within and across agencies support community based employment service delivery as priority option

Long-Term Outcome: Employment Service Organizations can provide all phases of integrated, community-based employment supports across an individual’s

career without undue interruption

Indicators:

Demonstrate an Increase community based employment for individuals

Strategy 4.1: Review opportunities to facilitate increased use of “braided” funding

Lead

Agency(s)


Agencies/Orgs

Involved

Projected

Start Date

Projected

Completion

Date

Program

Outcome

Resources

DBHDS

Employment

Specialist

Director

Division of

Rehabilitative

Services

4.1.1. Identify ways to allow for multiple funding

sources across an individual’s employment

programming which protects from “double

dipping”.

DMAS, DARS,

ESOs, SELN AG,

Interagency

Employment

Workgroup

3/31/2014 3/1/2015 Guidance

document on

allowable billing

practices

Existing DARS,

DBHDS and DMAS

Resources


14

DBHDS

Employment

Specialist and

Waiver

Specialist

Director

Division of

Rehabilitative

Services

4.1.2. SELN AG review and input into funding

methodology before final methodology

developed.

SELN AG 3/31/14 03/01/2015 SELN AG

recommendations

to proposed

funding

methodology.

Existing DARS,

DBHDS and DMAS

Resources

Strategy 4.2: DBHDS and DARS develop shared procedural standards for assisting individuals exiting training centers to obtain or maintain employment in

the community.

Lead

Agency(s)


Agencies/Orgs

Involved

Projected Start

Date

Projected

Completion

Date

Program Outcome Resources

DBHDS

Employment

Specialist

Director

Division of

Rehabilitative

Services

4.2.1 DBHDS and DARS to identify strategies to

coordinate current practices of transitioning of

individuals from training centers.

DARS, TCs,

ESOs, SELN AG

10/31/2013 12/31/2013 Document

coordination

strategies.

Existing state

Resources


15

Goal 5: Virginia will have a system wide data collection and performance measurement system and procedures for employment data for people in

supported employment

Long-Term Outcome: Virginia will be able to report accurate data on the use of supported employment by the target populations and track our progress

towards our goals and conduct continuous quality improvement activities

Indicators:

Targets reviewed quarterly by the SELN AG and Regional Quality Councils

Data regarding employment in the target population that is used to establish goals and advance quality improvement efforts

Strategy 5.1: Develop data gathering and analysis capability

DBHDS

Employment

Specialist

4.2.2 Share strategies and current practices

between agencies regarding transitioning

individuals from training centers.

DARS, DMAS,

TCs

11/1/2013 12/31/2013 Coordination of

program

expectations

Existing state

Resources

DBHDS

Employment

Specialist

4.2.3 Coordinate DARS referral process into

training center discharge process

DARS, DMAS,

TCs, ESOs

11/1/2013 12/31/2013 Guidance

document for

DARS, DBHDS, and

Training Centers

Existing state

Resources

DBHDS

Employment

Specialist

Director

Division of

Rehabilitative

Services

4.2.4 Formalize roles and responsibilities

through an MOA

DARS, DMAS,

TCs

1/1/2014 3/31/2014 Formal MOA

between agencies

and Training

Centers

Existing state

Resources


16

Lead

Agency(s)


Agencies/Orgs

Involved

Projected

Start Date

Projected

Completion

Date

Program Outcome Resources

DBHDS 5.1.1 Develop and implement data sharing across

agencies in order to plan for students identified

through Part B data collection as nearing exit from

school and services and entering into adult service

agencies.

Data from DARS on individuals in competitive

employment, individual supported employment

and group supported employment

Billing data from DMAS on individual supported

employment, group supported employment, pre-

vocational services, and day support services.

Interagency

Employment

Workgroup?

10/1/2010 Ongoing

Data MOU

between agencies

Existing State

Resources

DBHDS 5.1.2 Develop and produce quarterly monitoring

format and report.

DBHDS, SELN AG 10/1/2013 ongoing Quarterly data

report

Existing DBHDS

Resources

DBHDS

5.1.3. DBHDS to convene a workgroup to explore

the creation of a standalone methodology or

system to collect accurate employment service and

outcome data and make recommendations,

including any funding recommendations

DBHDS, SELN AG 02/012/14 09/30/14 Recommendations

for a system or

methodology

Existing

resources

DBHDS 5.1.4 Establish data milestones and report quarterly

(or semi-annually)

SELN AG,

Interagency

Workgroup

10/1/13 Ongoing Report to SELN

AG, Interagency

Workgroup &

Independent

Reviewer

Existing State

Resources


17

Goal 6: Virginia’s State Employment Leadership Network Advisory Group will have a formalized structure with clearly defined roles and responsibilities for

members.

Long-Term Outcome: The SELN AG will be an efficient and representative group advising the DBHDS commissioner and others on how best to implement

the Employment First Initiative in Virginia.

Indicators:

Membership list that is reflective of diverse stakeholders

Open communication and efficient action plans guide the activities of the SELN AG

Strategy 5.1: Formalize the SELN AG role and function

Lead

Agency(s)


Agencies/Orgs

Involved

Projected

Start Date

Projected

Completion

Date

Program

Outcome

Resources

DBHDS

Employment

Specialist

6.1.1. Agree on necessary representation of the SELN

AG.

SELN AG,

National SELN

11/1/2013 11/31/2013 List of proposed

group

participants (by

role)

Existing DBHDS

Resources

DBHDS

Employment

Specialist

6.1.2 Develop group by-laws to promote goal of the

SELN AG

SELN AG,

National SELN

12/1/2013 1/31/2014 Written

guidelines: roles

and

responsibilities

of group

members

Existing State

Resources

DBHDS

Employment

Specialist

6.1.3 Appointment of members to group Current SELN AG

membership,

National SELN

2/1/2014 3/31/2014 Membership of

group starting FY

2015

Existing DBHDS

Resources

DBHDS

Employment

Specialist

6.1.4 Orientation of new membership Current SELN AG

membership ,

National SELN

3/31/2014 5/31/2014 Members

understand

bylaws and goal

of group

Existing DBHDS

Resources


18

DBHDS

Employment

Specialist

6.1.5 Develop ongoing self-evaluation tool for SELN

AG to ensure meetings and action plans reflect diverse

stakeholder input, as well as efficiency and

effectiveness of SELN AG activities.

SELN AG and

National SELN

4/1/2014 Ongoing,

annually

Members feel

listened to and

respected

Evaluation

Results

virginia’s plan to increase employment opportunities for ......1 virginia’s plan to increase...

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